The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) internship program is an 10 week, paid position. These internships provide an incredible introduction to animal care and nonprofit work. Our interns are key members of our summer team, participating in critical elements of the Sanctuary’s mission. We seek dedicated individuals who are passionate about wildlife, comfortable with animals, and ready to work hard for a good cause.

There are three internships available for Summer 2026. Internships are typically 8 hours per day, 5 days per week (including weekends) for 10 weeks. Our program stipend equals $10/hour, with maximum pay of $4,000 for the 10-week time period. Housing is provided at no cost.

Approximate internship dates for Summer 2026 will be: 
Session 1: May 6 - July 15
Session 2: May 20 - July 29
Session 3: June 3 - August 12
Please let us know in your application if any of these internship periods would not work for you.

Applicant Requirements:

• Applicants must be 18 years or older.
• Applicants must be a United States citizen.
• Applicants must be up to date on their tetanus vaccination.
• Applicants must complete the rabies vaccination sequence prior to the start of the position. Funding is available for this important vaccination if your health insurance will not cover it. 
• Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster shot, and be willing to wear a mask when required. We mask and wear PPE when handling all patients. Due to the zoonotic nature of COVID-19, this vaccine requirement is non-negotiable.
• Applicants must have access to a car for transporting animals (and yourself) to the Sanctuary.

What does an internship at a wildlife rehabilitation facility entail?
Animal Care

• Provide excellent rehabilitative care to all animals at the facility.
• Daily cleaning and feeding of all animals housed at the facility, including our rehabilitation patients and our education ambassador animals.
• Monitor patient health, attitude, weight, appetite, etc., and maintain written records of each animal’s progress.
• Assist with restraint, examination, diagnostic procedures and treatment of animals, as needed.
• Assist with admitting patients and completing associated records. Examine and initiate first aid to patients or new arrivals under supervision of staff.
• Assist with arranging transport of incoming animals to the Sanctuary and transport of severely injured animals to the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
• Clean and prep outdoor enclosures in a variety of conditions, including designing fresh enrichment for different species in care. 
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness in nurseries, kitchen, laundry room, and animal housing areas.
• Prepare specialized meals for a variety of species.

Other Duties

• Answer the phone and respond to rehabilitation related questions from the public when needed.
• Assist in collecting photographs of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds for our website, social media accounts, newsletter, and presentations.
• Help with fundraising and/or outreach events, when necessary.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and special projects, as requested.

What should I expect to gain from my internship at RWS?

• Hands-on learning and experience with wildlife, with species ranging from field mice to foxes and songbirds to large raptors (and don’t forget reptiles!).
• A greater appreciation for the natural history of Virginian wildlife and their role in the environment.
• Time management and multitasking skills. You will learn how to efficiently approach a large workload that is time-sensitive in a fun and interesting environment.
• Experience with humans! You will be working with a small team of rehabilitators as well as working frequently with the public by intaking animals and answering phone calls throughout your internship.
• How to handle hard situations, like the death of a patient or difficult public relations.
• Appreciation for the value of teamwork and the importance of curiosity.
• An opportunity to learn whether or not you want to pursue wildlife rehabilitation or any other animal care/conservation field.

What shouldn't I expect from my internship at RWS? 

• Making copies, filing paperwork, or other administrative tasks.
• A sedentary job. Our rehabbers, volunteers, and interns average 20K steps daily!
• Staying clean. We work largely outdoors in hot, humid conditions, and a lot of the most important tasks (like cleaning outdoor enclosures) can get pretty messy. We leave work every day pretty seriously ready for a shower!

Compensation: 
We are happy to offer a paid internship program and care deeply about increasing equitable access to hands-on wildlife career opportunities. Compensation is $10/hour with no overtime pay available, although interns do need to work some overtime occasionally.

Housing:
We provide housing free of charge, but the housing is not on the property of the Sanctuary. Thus, it will be necessary for you to have access to a car for the duration of your internship.

Please let us know in your application if you have an up-to-date rabies vaccination. If not, we pay for our summer interns to receive rabies vaccinations prior to their internship.